CDF Skills Bursary Under Scrutiny as Institutions Struggle With Rising Enrollment

By Hegar Chola | Mansa

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) skills development bursary programme, one of the government’s flagship initiatives aimed at equipping vulnerable youths with practical skills and improving economic opportunities is facing growing scrutiny in Mansa district amid concerns over training costs, institutional capacity and value for money.

An investigation by KFM in Bahati Constituency, one of the two constituencies in Mansa, found mounting questions from beneficiaries, civic leaders and education sector representatives over whether the programme is delivering the quality of training promised while ensuring prudent use of public funds.

Official records issued by Mansa Municipal Council on February 2, 2026, and signed by Town Clerk Dr. Josephine Mwanza, show that 295 students were selected to benefit from the programme in Bahati Constituency. More than K6.2 million was allocated towards skills development training. However, a review of some of the allocations has sparked debate among citizens.

Among the beneficiaries is a student selected to pursue a one-year Fashion Design and Tailoring course at Mansa School for Continuing Education at a cost of K21,850. Another beneficiary enrolled in a one-year Food Production course was allocated K25,815.

Further inquiries by KFM revealed significant variations in training costs.
A skills training institution in Luapula Province offering a comparable food production course under self-sponsorship quoted K9,600 for a one-year programme — considerably lower than some of the allocations reviewed under the CDF bursary scheme.

While the comparison alone does not establish any irregularity, it raises questions about how bursary-funded training costs are determined and whether sufficient scrutiny exists to ensure value for money before public funds are committed.

Although the allocations fall within the approved bursary budgets, the disparities prompt broader questions about whether the amounts paid are consistent with prevailing market rates for comparable training programmes and whether existing oversight mechanisms provide adequate safeguards for value for money.

The concerns are not limited to costs. Some beneficiaries interviewed by KFM said they were experiencing challenges that raised questions about the preparedness of institutions receiving large numbers of CDF-sponsored students.

Felix Mwila, who was initially selected to pursue a driving course, said practical lessons had not commenced despite the programme already being underway. He further disclosed that he was later redirected to another institution, a development he said created uncertainty about his training.

At Mansa Trades Training Institute, Student Union President Malcolm Mudenda said the rapid increase in enrolment under the bursary scheme had placed pressure on institutional resources.

He also said some students were receiving predominantly theoretical instruction because of limited practical equipment and shortages of protective gear required for hands-on learning.

Institutional authorities, however, rejected suggestions of wrongdoing.
Mansa Trades Principal Mukupa Musanse defended the institution’s fee structure, saying charges were approved by the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) and relevant government ministries.

Musanse maintained that the fees were standard and complied with regulatory requirements.

The concerns have also attracted the attention of local leaders. Chansunsu Ward Councillor Emmanuel Bwanga questioned whether the programme was delivering maximum benefit to learners, arguing that there was a need for greater transparency around training costs and stronger oversight of participating institutions.

“We need to ensure that public funds are translating into quality training and meaningful skills for the beneficiaries,” Bwanga said.

Mansa Trades Principal Musanse acknowledged that the increase in enrolment resulting from CDF sponsorship had stretched the institution’s capacity, particularly in relation to training resources and infrastructure.

Mudenda also cited delays in the disbursement of meal allowances, saying some students struggled to meet basic needs while waiting for payments.B

But Mansa Municipal Council Public Relations Officer Joel Kashi attributed delays in publishing beneficiary lists and processing allowances to verification procedures and late submissions but maintained that participating institutions were monitored and could be blacklisted if found to be in breach of programme guidelines.

She also said the council was executing decisions made by the CDF Committees and was not solely responsible for determining beneficiary placements or institutional selections.

As public investment in skills development continues to grow, observers say greater transparency and accountability will be vital to maintaining confidence in the programme.

This article was produced by MakanDay’s Local Reporting Network. Subscribe through our website and follow our Facebook page to receive stories like this one as soon as they are published.